The Local Issue 157 August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019 Issue 157 Daylesford debutantes

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

2 About Us

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Front cover: Eight young women, including Brooke Cowan, pictured here with dance partner Stefan Lendrec, have made their debut into society at a debutante ball at the Daylesford Town Hall. Read about it, and see more stunning photos by Karen Brothers, on page 5.

pposed to evoke Good writing is su ader - not the fact sensation in the re g t the feeling of bein that it is raining, bu rained upon.

- E. L. Doctorow

August 26, 2019 Issue 157 Daylesford debutantes

The Local - The Heart of the Highlands

The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands. The next edition is out on Monday, September 9, 2019.

Or online on Sunday, September 8 at www.tlnews.com.au

The Local is a registered trademark of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.

Advertising deadlines for the next edition of The Local:

The Local is a member of the Victorian Country Press Association.

The content expressed within this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of The Local Publishing Group Pty Ltd.

Space bookings: Wednesday, September 4 Copy deadline: Thursday, September 5 Editorial deadline: Thursday, September 5

HE Local is a free publication distributed throughout the Central Highlands of Victoria. The first "monthly" edition was published in September 2013 and immediately became fortnightly thanks to the demand of our readers and advertisers.

Managing editor | Donna Kelly General manager | Kyle Barnes

T

The Local is brought to you by a team of local journalists, photographers, columnists, sub-editors, graphic designers, book-keepers and, of course, great delivery people. So when we talk about being local, we really do put our money where our mouth is.

The Local's motto is to "connect the community" by bringing people closer with great features on amazing local people and ensuring you know what is happening around your community whether that's a festival, a fete or maybe just a great special from one of our fantastic advertisers. Content is key.

We love writing about local people doing inspiring things and even local people doing ordinary things. And as some people, mostly politicians, have found out, if you are not local you will not appear in the pages of The Local.

You will find The Local, and all the back copies, online at www.tlnews.com.au and we deliver bulk drops throughout the region along with smaller "cafe" packs to every cafe, hotel, bar and restaurant we can find. We've even heard of The Local turning up in places like a cafe in St Kilda and a bar in Bali! All up we have a print and online readership of about 14,000.

The Local's advertising rates have always been kept affordable so even small advertisers can advertise big. Colour is free, the sizes are an eighth, quarter, banner, half and full page and we can help with making up branding and graphics. The world is confusing enough, so we like to keep things simple.

Finally, from the start, we have offered two free adverts in every edition for notfor-profit organisations along with a rescue pet looking for a new home. It's just our way of giving back. We really hope you enjoy this edition of The Local.

Cheers, Donna (Ed)

Sub-editors | Nick Bunning and Lindsay Smith Sales | Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au Writers | Kevin Childs, Kate Taylor, Anthony Sawrey, Peter Young and Donna Kelly Photographers | Kyle Barnes and David White Graphic designer & HLH coordinator | Dianne Caithness Columnists | Glen Heyne (gardening), Indre Kisonas (design), Sam Redlich (wellbeing) and Tanya Loos (nature).

Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Anthony Sawrey Call us for news and advertising on 5348 7883 or 0416 104 283 Email: news@tlnews.com.au, donna@tlnews.com.au, kyle@tlnews.com.au See all our e-editions at www.tlnews.com.au See a photo you like? Photos are just $22 each, or $55 for commercial use, and will be emailed at high resolution. You can print as many as you like...

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The Local - winner of: *Daylesford Rotary's 2017 Employee of the Year *Rural Press Club of Victoria 2015 Best Feature Series *Daylesford Rotary’s 2015 Business of the Year *Kyneton Daffodil Festival Parade 2015 Best Commercial Entry

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Inspiring 3

Winning the war on waste at Woodend

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ANY people were outraged by what they saw on the ABC’s War on Waste series but for Woodend’s Lisa Richards, it was the point where she decided to become involved.

She was one of the first volunteers to join up with Woodend Community Bags to help steer the town towards being plastic bag free and then, in the middle of last year, decided on a “plastic attack” on Coles supermarket. It was, she says, totally out of character for her.

“I don’t like sticking my neck out, I really prefer to be everybody’s friend, but I felt really strongly about it.

It was before we got the new Coles and I had a good chat with the manager, and he was very friendly and very community-minded, and we worked out our strategy so it would be a positive experience for everyone and I could get the message out.

“On the day, nobody was standing with me, just the kids. But I put my courage and convictions together and it went really well. I did it the right way, not angry, not a protest, not a boycott, just pointing out what was going on and how much plastic was coming out of the supermarket. And I realise that is just one place.

“And that was the trigger for me. I didn’t want to just be on Facebook, I wanted to get out there and do it for real.”

Not long after, Lisa got in touch with the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, an umbrella organisation of a number of smaller groups, and in October last year found herself heading up the Waste Action Group – and its now almost 200 members. She says with Australia’s recycling crisis, it was a great time to reinvigorate the group with a number of successful programs.

The group’s most visible presence is at the Woodend Farmers Market and the new Macedon Village Farmers Market. There they have a stall and a number of collection boxes for recycling including through TerraCycle, an international upcycling and recycling company that takes difficult-to-recycle packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products.

TerraCycle, which started in America in 2001, has certain waste streams which are sponsored by big corporations as part of their social and environmental responsibilities. Lisa said one of the most popular was sponsored by Colgate and not surprisingly collects dental implements including plastic toothbrushes and dental floss boxes – but of all brands. Once a certain amount of waste weight is achieved, the group puts it in a supplied box, prints off a label and the contents go to TerraCycle where they are broken down and reused.

Another popular recycling item is coffee pods which “have a lot of useful stuff inside – the coffee gets composted, aluminium is a very high-value material and the plastic gets broken into pellets and reused”, Lisa says. “It’s a micro level of recycling that is basically impossible with normal yellow bins.” Batteries are also in demand, with them going to Envirostream, a battery recycling business based in New Gisborne.

And along with the markets, there’s plenty of other activities such as the mini war on waste at Macedon Primary School, rubbish removal at the Woodend Railway carpark with the Second Woodend Scouts, and talks at the library.

“It’s all about education, information, not being judgmental and helping people with this horrible, confusing, difficult subject. A lot of people don’t want to think about their rubbish but unfortunately we can’t do that anymore, Australia is in crisis.

I have massive empathy, I find it hard too. But if we don’t take a look at our own waste, our rubbish, we are not going to be able to figure it out.”

Lisa said the biggest concern was that the community, no longer knowing if their recycling was going to landfill or not, would decide to just give up but the only way out of the crisis was to start recycling better.

“We have just under 200 in our group with a leadership team of about eight, because I wanted a group where anybody could get involved. We have just started sessions at Holgate’s Pub called 'Get Waste Ed at the Pub!'. It’s open to anyone so people can come along and talk about the things they want to be active with. It is encouraging everyone to take their own action but be supported.

“We are always after new members, the more the merrier, and I would love a crew here and there at the smaller towns in the shire. I took part in a shire waste audit over summer, and it was the smelliest job I have ever done, but it was really informative and I really got a feel for what people are putting in their rubbish bins. It helped inform me on how the waste group can be really active and that education is the key.”

Contact Lisa on 0413 136 192 or waste@mrsg.org.au Above, from left, Bron Neill, Deb Howell, Lisa Richards and Nea Gyorffy Words: Donna Kelly | Image: David White

4 Poetry

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Local Lines

Community stuff

Spoken schmoken (or) Being Kept Awake at Night in a Resort Room in Cooktown in Far Northern Queensland

HEPBURN Shire Council has entered a one-year memorandum of understanding with Daylesford Motorfest for the 2020 event.

Do not worry about these words. They are not armed.

They are assembled. They have however been pressed into service. They march toward but never reach the edge. They are freighted but not loaded.

Other words command. They bristle with intention.

Achtung! Crocodiles! Across Northern Queensland multi-lingual Germans are forewarned riverside.

Now let us turn to another bracket of words: unexamined words issued by mind and mouth, at volume. Rat-a-tat words, unsentenced outgoings, non-words even. Whoops. Hollers.

When you are under the covers in the night it is these that are the killers.

Bill Wootton Bill Wootton lives in Hepburn Springs and writes poetry regularly. Come snow, he runs away.

Poems for Local Lines come predominantly from a group of poets. However, other locals who would like a poem considered for publication can contact Bill Wootton - cottlesbreedge@gmail.com

Young writers show their stuff

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UR youngsters are full of imagination and ideas. Proof of this came in the hundreds of entries in the primary schools’ Words in Winter writing competition, with its theme, Life as I Know It.

Winning entries: Grades 1-2: First, Ava O’Halloran (St Michael’s), second, Oliver Sleeman (St Michael’s), third, Aurora Freeman (Dharma School). Highly commended: Molly Daniher (St Michael’s), Thomas Meechan (St Michael’s), Sophie Monaghan (St Michael’s), William McLean (Newlyn), Adam Cronin (Daylesford) and Tullie TaylorSmith (Daylesford).

Grades 3-4: First, Olive Deakin (Daylesford), second, Miles Perry (Daylesford), third, Rosie Godson (Dharma School). Highly commended: Maia Joyner (Dharma School), Ella McLure (Clunes) and Kodah Filmer (Clunes).

Grades 5-6: First, Jaime Sandow (Daylesford), second, Catrina Ishak (St Michael’s), third, Charlie Day (Clunes). Highly commended: Sophia Bueskens-Wong (Daylesford), Chloe Ellis (St Michael’s) and Zoran Mitic (Newlyn).

Council will provide $5000 funding for organisers to engage a professional traffic management company and $5000 for operational support. Chief executive officer Evan King said this was a great outcome for the event and the council was looking forward to working with committee president Kate Larsen and the Motorfest team.

THE Daylesford St Petersburg Trio concert on Saturday, August 31 has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

For ticket refunds visit eCasa, 89 Vincent Street, Daylesford if purchased there or online through TryBooking.

FUNDING of $300,000 has been approved to upgrade the Campaspe River Walk in Kyneton.

The funding is part of an initiative which will see Macedon Ranges Shire Council receive new healthy infrastructure and programs as part of Healthy Heart of Victoria.

It will be used to extend the shared footpath, connect the pathway to new outdoor fitness equipment, and to plan for and deliver facilities that attract more people to use and enjoy the walk.

Community members who would like to be involved in the design process and learn more about the project are encouraged to share their ideas and thoughts.

COMMUNITY input is needed for a new master plan for the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.

The plan will be a long-term strategic document that will guide the ongoing management and development of the heritage-listed gardens.

Information provided by residents, visitors, community groups and local authorities such as Heritage Victoria, Coliban Water and the Dja Dja Wurrung clans will be used to shape the master plan.

The draft plan is expected to go on exhibition later this year.

WANT to join a free bus tour and see inside homes created with sustainability in mind?

Learn how to make your home healthier, cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in through a free bus tour which will visit houses in the Macedon Ranges Shire open for Sustainable House Day, a national event.

The bus tour will take place on Sunday, September 15 from 9.30am to 1pm and will leave from the car park next to the Woodend Community Centre. Places are limited and the opportunity is available to Macedon Ranges Shire residents only.

Lunch on the day will be provided by the Macedon Ranges Veg Eating Group.

Link: www.sustainablehouseday.com

COMMUNITY groups in the federal electorate of Ballarat are set to benefit with two new grants opportunities opening soon.

The grants programs, both to be administered by the Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King, are the Communities Environment Program and the Stronger Community Programme.

The Communities Environment Program will provide up to $150,000 across the electorate to support a maximum of 20 small scale community-led environment projects that address local environmental priorities in our region.

The Stronger Communities Programme will fund small capital projects that improve local community participation and contribute to vibrant and viable communities. Expression of interest forms must be submitted by August 29.

Above, the Daylesford Town Hall shines for the Debutante Ball Below, back row, from left, Anna Santurini, Tia Masterson, Lily Fox and Brooke Cowan, front row, from left, Hely Balle, Keeley Meade-Sweet, Lydia Hasler-Betts and Andromeda Bell

Daylesford Debutante Ball

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IGHT young women have made their debut into society at a debutante ball at the Daylesford Town Hall.

The event was held on Saturday, August 10.

Organiser Jayne Santurini said she had the idea for the ball earlier this year when her daughter, Anna, came home from Daylesford College saying she wanted to make her debut but it would have to be in Ballarat.

"I just thought she should do it here. I grew up here and attended them as a youngster when my uncle was mayor. So I contacted the council and then the school to make sure it wouldn't clash with any exam dates.

"I applied for a community grant and the next step was finding dance instructors. U3A put me onto Elizabeth Howard and Andrew O'Connell and they were fantastic and they taught the girls four dances over 10 weeks.

"The girls, all 16 years old, asked the boys to take part and it was a really magical night - we even had snow."

Jayne said the night was MCd by Cr Kate Redwood and attended by a number of dignitaries including Ballarat MP Catherine King.

There was also a Blue Light DJ with catering from Emma James at Trentham.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Karen Brothers

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Karolina's wish comes true thanks to many

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Now the space provides a comfortable living area for FTER a successful fundraising campaign raised patients and visitors to spend time together and share a over $10,000 for its refurbishment, the newly meal; the new sofa can be opened to provide a sleeping area upgraded Palliative Care Suite at Creswick for loved ones staying overnight.

Hospital has opened.

Talented Clunes artist, Karolina, pictured left, spent her final months as artist-in-residence at the palliative unit.

In gratitude for the care given by the Creswick Hospital’s wonderful staff, Karolina’s wish was that the room be refurbished, making it more comfortable for future patients.

After Karolina’s passing in July last year, a GoFundMe campaign was established to raise money to refurbish the room in her memory.

The suite has been transformed. Repainted and with new furniture, floor coverings, artwork, soft furnishings and decorations, the room is less institutional and more homelike, warm, welcoming and comfortable for patient and their visitor alike. The abundant natural light-filled environment is enlivened with the energy and colour of new outdoor and indoor plants.

Letters

A wall-mounted box to display photos, books and objects allows patients to bring their possessions to personalise the space and provide points of connection and conversation among visiting family members and friends.

This can prompt the sharing of stories, an important therapeutic and comforting part of end-of-life care.

Hepburn Health thanks Karolina’s friends and the Clunes community who contributed to the GoFundMe campaign, Creswick Hospital Auxiliary for fundraising to provide new linen and throws, Olicartia Creswick for the donation of plants and pots, Shannon’s Bridge for the gift of a bar fridge, Suzie Batch for coordinating the project and HHS maintenance team for painting and the installation of fixtures.

Also, the Daylesford flock included a range of breeds listed as endangered or critical by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.

Questions from local business owners about the lack of stakeholder consultation were repeatedly met with the dismissive statement that "there’s more to tourism in I ATTENDED my first council meeting in Daylesford and it proved to be Daylesford than 29 geese". Community members asked why other reasonable actions very telling. (eg. reduce the size of the flock) had not been considered. These suggestions were I listened to many passionate speeches from members of our community in ignored by the mayor who invoked the Cruelty to Animals Act. It is not clear how relation to the forced relocation of our Lake Daylesford geese. Removing the geese has the Act is relevant. Council answers failed to respond to the questions asked. The not only polarised our community it has raised questions about the lack of process rationale for removal of the geese remains unclear. and consultation with key stakeholders. We heard concerns from business owners as I am sad that the geese are no longer at the lake. Even more distressing, however, to the potential negative impact the removal of the geese may have on their business is the council’s disrespect and disregard for community concerns. and tourism in general.

- Amelia Church, Daylesford We learned that contrary to popular belief, our lake is not an appropriate habitat for black swans, who I now understand are shallow swamp water dwellers. It was I THOUGHT l lived in a gorgeous part of Victoria, and was bringing up my highlighted that our geese were also on the threatened species list and not deemed as son in a small country town. vermin in Australia.

I have brought him up to appreciate the smaller things such as listening to the Whilst I actually enjoyed our Lake Daylesford geese, fundamentally, this is not an kookaburras talk to one another, really seeing the beauty in a sunset and until recently issue of liking or disliking geese. At its heart, this is an issue about decision making walking around the lake to see the geese. in the absence of proper analysis, process and consultation. It is very easy to blame I took my son to the council meeting on Tuesday, August 20, because l wanted the mayor for repetitive and poorly worded responses, most of which did not address him to see me stand up and ask the councillors of Hepburn Shire why they have questions asked. Ultimately this begs the question of whether our council has the ruined Lake Daylesford by removing the geese. The saddest part of the evening was right balance of professional support, knowledge and transparency to be able to make the councillors' lack of humanity in even answering a question with some emotion. decisions in the best interest of the community at large.

All the answers to the questions were clearly written by someone else other than the

Letters are always welcome.

Email donna@tlnews.com.au Any addressed Dear Sir will be deleted.

- Michele Green, Daylesford

I MISS the geese, and went to the council meeting on Tuesday, August 20 to learn more about the rationale for the removal of the Daylesford flock. I was appalled by the conduct of council.

I hoped to hear evidence for the council’s unanimous decision to remove the geese, and a reasoned account for the haste in their relocation. I expected to be made aware of data that informed this decision, the source of expert advice, or serious environmental implications. But no evidence was provided. No transparent account for the council’s decision-making process was provided. Worse still, unsubstantiated claims (ie. ‘dumping’ of geese) were stated as fact in support of removing the flock.

I did learn - from public questions - that the council’s use of the word ‘pest’ to describe the geese is inaccurate.

mayor. And his answers were so formulated.

Believe me, l will continue to fight for a better Daylesford, if not for me, for my son. We all deserve to be listened to and answered with some emotion and understanding! Until the next meeting!

- Clare Sleeman, Daylesford

THE Words in Winter Trentham committee thank you for your assistance with publishing our events for this year’s festival.

The front cover photo of John McLaren was excellent and thank you for also adding our program to The Local. We look forward to your continued support for Words in Winter Trentham.

- Natalie Gretton, secretary, Words in Winter committee

Robyn Grant, left, with Woodend Red Cross president Margaret Altmann, and Trauma Teddies Image: David White

Volunteers creating loved Trauma Teddies

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T WAS 1991 when the first Red Cross Trauma Teddy was handed out to a child, bringing comfort to a child experiencing illness, trauma or distress.

“This started in October last year, with the added benefit of Red Cross Australia now working with Tarrengower Prison at Maldon, to engage more women in this confidence- and competence-building exercise. Not to mention the Teddies produced.

The cuddly fellows knitted in indigenous colours are very popular, so wool donated in A year earlier, Richard Hamilton, then superintendent of Campbelltown Ambulance Service, saw a teddy bear given to a child being treated by the ambulance the correct colours is snapped up very quickly.”

Robyn said the Woodend Red Cross also worked with a number of Aboriginal service in Camden. organisations, such as Djirra, Vacca, Aces, Margaret Tucker Hostel and local co-ops, He was impressed by the calming effect the bear had on the child, so through which was very rewarding to both them and the volunteers involved. his mother Vera Hamilton he asked Red Cross to assist in providing more bears for Robyn said all of the knitters are volunteers and provide the wool at their own children treated by the ambulance. Red Cross swung into action and Trauma Teddy expense and while there are generous donors, it’s never enough. was born.

“The knitting patterns are available online, or we are happy to help out with Fast forward to 2019 and more than one million Trauma Teddies have been printed sheets. If you can cast on and manage plain garter stitch, you are a Trauma given to children as a result of the dedicated and hard work of volunteer knitters – Teddy hero in the making. Wool or acrylic in 8 ply is always in demand. No fluffy or including those at Woodend Red Cross. glittery bits please, these can be hazardous to the little ones. As the Teddies are always Local “Teddy Wrangler” Robyn Grant said Woodend Red Cross was very proud of its association with the Trauma Teddy program “and no more so than when we get donated, never sold, we are delighted to be given gifts of money. This is used for the hugely expensive filling we give to the volunteers.” feedback from those who have benefitted from the love and compassion which goes Robyn said none of the work of the Red Cross was possible without its volunteers into every stitch”.

– the backbone of the organisation.

“Trauma Teddies are likely to pop up to soothe a distressed child in ambulances, “In fact, some of them aren’t even Red Cross members, just heroes. Nobody in fire stations, doctor’s offices and emergency centres along with family violence centres, any of our branches is paid for the hours of work and care they provide, and the council immunisation and pathology services. They are also given out by Red Cross money they spend for the materials they use. Thank you to every one of you, from Emergency Services staff and volunteers.

Red Cross Australia, the children who clutch their beloved Teds, and those of us who “In the last few months we have been very proud of the program organised with see the results of the good you do without payment or publicity.” the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. The necessary formalities were gradually completed, with absolutely wonderful results. The workshops run by our fabulous trained volunteers were a huge success with the women, many of whom had never held a Contacts: mcoulson@redcross.org.au or robyngrant2@gmail.com knitting needle, let alone completed a whole project.

Donations of wool are welcomed at Mort & Pestle in Woodend.

"Their pride in the work was so rewarding, as many really believed they were Words: Contributed useless and incapable of anything so ‘complex’.

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8 #geesegate

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More geese questions than answers at meeting

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AYLESFORD’S tourism industry was not determined by 29 domestic animals, Hepburn Shire Council mayor Don Henderson told a packed council meeting last Tuesday, August 20.

But many questions remained unanswered about the removal of the geese from Lake Daylesford on July 22.

Councillors made the decision, after a recommendation by biodiversity officer Brian Bainbridge, to remove the waterfowl, at its July meeting just five days before they were collected and shipped to a private, unnamed sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula.

About 50 people attended the August council meeting and out of a total of 28 submissions, 14 people put forward 23 flora- and fauna-related questions.

Opening council remarks by mayor Don Henderson included a condemnation of those people who attempted to disrupt the bird removal and a clear warning before the commencement of question time that there would be no vilification or threatening of officials.

The first matter to be addressed was the submission of a paper petition with 375 signatures. The petition asks for a formal apology from council “in relation to the decision to re-home the Daylesford geese without due process or community engagement”.

“This petition condemns council for acting with no consideration for ratepayer and stakeholder consultation, no due process and total denial of opportunity for conversation around possible alternative solutions. The pushing through of this decision by stealth and the unseemly and cruel haste in the removal of the geese against an overwhelming tide of concern, demonstrates blatant disrespect for the community in which we live and considerable disregard for associated risk to tourism and the economic health of this area,” the petition stated.

The petition was received and a reply is to be presented at the next council meeting in Trentham on September 10.

Questions put to council were varied. Businesswoman and Hepburn resident Christine Lewis told the council the geese were iconic images of Daylesford and had been part of the local story for visitors to this region for decades. Ms Lewis said the visitor economy directly and indirectly supported the employment of hundreds of people here and had been a major contributor to the economic development and prosperity of this area for many years. She asked why the council did not deem it necessary to consult with major local stakeholder/contributors to the local visitor economy or with Daylesford Macedon Tourism, when first considering possibility of removal.

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Cr Henderson read a prepared answer saying the council did inform stakeholders of the upcoming removal and that the tourism industry was not determined by 29 domestic animals.

“The report was made available on the Thursday before the (July 16) meeting,” he said. "While recognising the value that some attribute to the geese, council believes many other amenities and environmental attractions at Lake Daylesford and the region contribute to its attraction to visitors. Council believes our tourism industry is a combination of efforts from many committed people over a long period and as such, is not determined by 29 domestic animals on Lake Daylesford. Finally, although some have been unhappy with our decision to rehome the geese, council has also received strong support from residents and visitors alike.”

Ballarat Poultry Society member Di Lelong said if the council was prepared to reinstate 50 per cent of the flock, she was prepared to commit to raising the funds to pay for transportation costs, new signage and welfare incidentals. Cr Henderson told her the council was not prepared to reintroduce any geese to the lake as this would constitute an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. He added that the retention of the dumped domestic waterfowl or their descendants could certainly not be celebrated as a local tourist attraction.

After the meeting, Gina Lyons, a concerned Daylesford resident, said the council’s answers were incomplete and unsatisfactory.

“It didn't seem like a process which was attempting to address people's concerns, it seemed like a defensive process where the council was trying to avoid responding to the specifics of the question.”

Boathouse Restaurant owners Susanne Devine and Claire Levine said despite owning a lakeside business they were never consulted about the removal.

“There should have been no reason that the council could not have shown the courtesy or interest to us and Lake House, as the only two food and beverage businesses on the lake, to discuss this matter. We certainly don’t find the council’s responses satisfactory.”

Meanwhile, Hepburn Shire Council will develop signage for Lake Daylesford “with appropriate messaging to help the community understand the best ways to help look after our natural environment”.

Words: Anthony Sawrey & Donna Kelly | Image: Anthony Sawrey Letters page 8.

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Our artists 9

Flame of passion ignited again for painting

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EDYHNE Lebachen grew up in Templestowe and roamed the fields all day in a time when there were orchards, open fields, many foxes and very few houses. She has always loved creating in general and at school tried art, spinning, weaving, pottery and loved it all.

She painted and sold a few pieces many years ago but says the "flame of passion has been ignited for painting again" and would paint all day, every day if she could. She chatted with Donna Kelly.

Donna: What do you do art-wise?

Medyhne: I paint on canvasses using acrylic paints, painting different aspects of nature, trees, butterflies, dolphins, sunsets. I also enjoy painting different designs and have found working with lace creates some beautiful cosmic and snowflake effects. I am all about empowering the divine feminine and also love creating goddess and angel type images. I write books and illustrated one of them with these goddess images. Colour (and sound) are my mediums, loving colour and brightness.

Donna: What does your art mean to you?

Medyhne: Art is the ability to express ourselves in a way that is freer and more liberating. When I paint I go into some spaceless and timeless zone where there is no time as we know it. Words are limited but art is a language of the soul that promotes true soul connection with others, bypassing the need for words.

Donna: What do you hope it means to others?

Medyhne: I hope my art brings empowerment, joy, upliftment and energises the viewer. I like to raise frequency and expansion on all levels. That is my intent and I believe intention is important. This also summarises my entire "soul" purpose or intention for being here at this time on earth.

Donna: You run a wellness clinic in Clunes as well – what does that entail?

Medyhne: This space exists to empower, uplift, heal and provide support for Clunes and the surrounding community with a whole range of services and classes.

It is called Freedom Light Collective, next to the beautiful Red Door Gallery, 69 Fraser Street. It is about all aspects of wellbeing and is currently offering classes in meditation, astrology, playing ukulele, self-love and self-care plus a manifestation club to help one another manifest our dreams and true life purpose. I offer individual sessions in life transformation, working with divine guidance to heal life issues, clear life blockages and empower people to create their best life. I have worked in this area online and in person, for about 25 years. I am running retreats and a selflove weekend retreat in Clunes in late September. I have a YouTube channel with interviews, creativity and wellness information at Medyhne Lebachen. Freedom Light Collective has been well received so far although I don’t think everyone knows about it in our community.

I wrote my first song when inspired by a Bruce Springsteen concert, then I was singing with bands like Taipan and Just Desserts - we won the Victorian Battle of the Bands many years ago - and performing solo, original music. My partner Zedinen and I have recorded a lot of original music and had some exciting things happen like a song in a US movie that showed at Cannes Film Festival and two super-talented film makers making videos of our songs. We now perform live music around this area with classic pop songs, some originals and varied guitar instrumentals.

Donna: Where can we see your artwork and where can we see you perform next?

Medyhne: You can see my artwork at my Freedom Light Collective Wellness Space, book appointments on 0408 547 804 or at www.medyhne.com. Widow Twankey's Cafe and The National Hotel, both in Clunes, have some of my paintings displayed.

People can see our next Sonic Remedy performances at the Freight Bar & Restaurant in Ballarat on Friday, September 13 or the Crown Hotel in Newstead on Sunday, September 22.

Donna: What is your Clunes story?

Medyhne: My partner and I moved to Clunes two years ago to build a house. It is a lovely township, very friendly and community-oriented. Everyone chats to you.

I was lucky to experience being an extra in the new Russell Crowe Ned Kelly movie coming out soon. I looked a bit ridiculous with the make-up and hair and could barely recognise myself. My favourite Clunes experience was one Christmas a few years ago.

The town was lit up like a Christmas tree, so decorative. Opera was echoing through Donna: You are also a singer. How did you get involved in music and with whom? the town from the rotunda and everyone was chatting to everyone, strangers and Medyhne: I have always sung since being a tiny poppet. I sang in a school group friends alike. It was friendly, warm and engaging. We were even invited to a beautiful in primary school. We were on Young Talent Time where I sang the verses solo on Bob wedding that night. It felt like we were in an episode of The Gilmore Girls. Go Clunes!

Dylan’s song Blowin’ in the Wind and was interviewed by Johnny Young.

Image: Contributed

10 Sport

www.tlnews.com.au

Newlyn Cats purring again by sports writer Dan Lonergan

F

OR the Newlyn Football Club in the Central Highlands League, onfield successes in recent years have been few and far between.

The last flag was 2003. They then waited nine years before playing finals again in 2012, before being spectators for the next five senior finals campaigns.

However, the worm turned for the Cats in 2018 as they made the top eight and won an elimination final, before losing a semi-final the next week. This season has been a revelation, with the Cats second on the ladder having beaten perennial finalists Gordon on August 17, 11.11-77 to 7.12-54. Their next match is on August 31, in the preliminary finals against Hepburn – one win away from the grand final.

2017 was the first season they had the current coaching regime in place. Nonplaying coach, Chris Dwyer, whose brother Simon is club president and playing coach, Dan Wehrung, pictured right, who had spent some time playing with the North Ballarat City Roosters in the Ballarat League, but unlike the majority of the playing list and committee and volunteers had virtually no connection before with the club. That though, has not been an issue for Dan. He says it’s like he has always been a Newlyn player. “I felt comfortable from the start and everyone has made me feel welcome. There is that great community atmosphere amongst the club.”

Simon, who is in his sixth year as president, says in some ways the joint appointment of Chris and Dan as coaches was out of necessity as Newlyn had a shortage of choices to become coach in 2017. “Yes, we asked them to do it and they were happy to give it a go, but the first year was tough finishing bottom four.”

To be successful in local or country footy is about nurturing your juniors and hoping they stay. Newlyn’s issue is that it is a small farming community with a primary school of less than 10 students and also it lies geographically between Daylesford and Ballarat, so there are a few teams competing against them for recruits.

Simon though says the club has struck gold when it came to recruiting one of Newlyn’s most famous juniors, Myles Sewell, who won a Liston Medal in the VFL with the now defunct North Ballarat Roosters and is brother of dual Hawthorn Premiership player, Brad. Myles joined the team as a playing assistant coach in 2018.

He also enticed another famous name from the North Ballarat Roosters, who won three consecutive VFL Premierships in the last decade, another Liston Medallist, Stephen Clifton, who also played some AFL footy in the early days of the GWS Giants.

Another Sewell, Adam, who played in Newlyn’s last flag in 2003 as a 17-year-old returned and Simon said all of a sudden the club that he had been involved with since first playing juniors in 1987 became a destination club.

"It helped in regard to the recruiting points system that Myles Sewell, despite his storied career, was a one-point player as he had played here as a junior.”

The excellent recruiting continued at the start of this year as the Cats, starved of regular success, were determined that after a taste of finals footy, they wanted to contend this year. They secured a key forward, which appeared to be one of the last pieces of the puzzle as far as playing personnel was concerned and Marcus Darmody joined the club from North Ballarat City.

Dan speaks with pride about his prized addition, who recently kicked his 100th goal for the season. "Marcus has been so consistent and reliable, kicking six or seven goals every week.” Another important inclusion has been running half-back, Beau Bisch, who has had a celebrated career in the highly-rated North Central League with Wycheproof Narraport.

Newlyn has lost just two games for the season, a narrow defeat to top team, Buninyong and a shock defeat at the hands of arch rivals and closest neighbours, Creswick, who have had a poor season, but on that day were celebrating the club’s 150th anniversary.

Dan says no matter what happens in the finals, this will be his and Chris Dwyer’s last year in their coaching partnership, with Dan planning on travelling around Australia with his partner, Ellie, with Darwin, where he has played footy before in the Victorian summer, a likely destination.

Dan and Simon both understand how big it would be for Newlyn to end their 16-year premiership drought, but say that the club is right where they want to be after three years, a double chance in the finals giving the Cats every chance of winning a flag.

For the Dwyers, it’s a real family affair, with Simon’s nephew Matthew the treasurer of the club, but Simon insists there is so much more to the club than the Dwyers and that the club is in great shape.

“We have a tremendous junior program, the netballers are always successful and our volunteers are second to none. If a senior grand final victory comes our way, it will be for everyone who is involved in this great club.”

Meanwhile, Dan says it would be hard to describe what a win would mean, after being in the bottom four on the ladder in 2017, but there was still plenty of football to be played.

“Everyone associated with the Newlyn Cats has managed to temper the excitement together, without us as a playing or coaching group having to consciously think about calming the excitement, which is a great thing.”

As is often the case in the Central Highlands competition, it has been a tight battle at the top of the table. It should be a great finals campaign and Newlyn have proven they deserve to be there, but can they go on to win the premiership? On form, they have to be right in the mix.

WELCOME Dr Lara Westbury Springs Medical welcoms Dr Lara Westbury to the team at our Daylesford Clinic.

Dr Westbury will be with us for the next 6 months. To make an appointment, please book online or phone the Daylesford Clinic.

BOOK ONLINE WITH

www.springsmedical.com.au

Daylesford 10 Hospital St | tel: (03) 5348 2227

In an emergency always call 000

Trentham 22 Victoria St | tel: (03) 5424 1602

Images: David White

12 Happy & Healthy

www.tlnews.com.au

Palliative care boost Why Tai Chi?

K

YNETON District Health has received a funding boost of $210,000 to support palliative care patients in the Macedon Ranges.

Following a submission to the Department of Health and Human Services Palliative Care Infrastructure Grant, almost $192,000 was allocated for the purchase of equipment to help care for palliative care patients in the home including mobility aids, medical appliances and clinical support systems.

The healthcare service was also awarded $18,000 from the Palliative Care Service Innovation and Development Grant scheme to launch two projects to improve patients’ links with clinical support.

The Palliative Care Link Project will focus on enhancing referrals from local residential aged care Facilities to KDH Community Palliative Care Services. This builds upon the work already undertaken by Kyneton District Health’s Palliative Care nurses delivering education to staff working at residential aged care facilities.

The Rural Communications Link Project will look at ways to facilitate palliative care telelink consultations. Kyneton District Health already provide telelinks with the Victorian Adult Respiratory Service, so this project will build upon their experience to bring palliative care consultations to patients’ homes.

Members of the community nursing team who worked towards the grant proposal, from left, Andrea Perry, Alison Lowe and Esther McMillan-Drendel

T

AI Chi is a traditional Chinese exercise method based in martial arts.

Tai, through movement enhances Chi, life energy.

There are several styles of Tai Chi, all of which share the same principles.

Outward movements are performed slowly and smoothly with imaginary gentle resistance and weight transference with a supple yet upright and aligned body structure. Internally the mind is focused on the body movements with relaxed and loosened joints. Together with focused breathing and directing energy flow, this creates a mental quietness and serenity.

The low impact, gentle and relaxing moves practiced in Tai Chi principles develop the mind, body and spirit through mindfulness and meditative movement; this makes it an ideal exercise experience for all ages and physical conditions. On a physical level Tai Chi will strengthen and relax muscles, improve balance, posture, flexibility, agility, coordination, and also improve endurance. Other improvements will be found in pain management, cognitive function, blood pressure, deep breathing, stress reduction, anxiety and depression, sleep quality and energy levels.

Tai Chi principles have also been proven to be beneficial for a number of physical conditions including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s.

With all its physical and mental benefits, it is no wonder that Western culture has embraced Tai Chi since its introduction from the East.

Further insights into the benefits of Tai Chi can be readily found on many websites including Dr Michael Mosley’s Trust Me I’m A Doctor and Dr Paul Lam’s Tai Chi For Health.

David Smythe has practiced Tai Chi for more than 20 years. He is a certified Tai Chi instructor with Dr Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. David will be running Tai Chi for Health - Heart and Memory at Xistance Gym in Daylesford on Fridays at 10.30am.

Dr. Susanne M. Heringslake Chiropractor Moments To Ponder a little gift from me to you

A quiet moment, A reflective moment, A moment of stillness.

All opportunities to connect with the greater power, the innate wisdom, within us.

For all enquiries and to book appointments, please contact: Dr Susanne M Heringslake Chiropractor Mobile: 0407 301 352

In February 2019 our shop front closed but you can still buy our aromatherapy products online.

Locals can pick up orders Tuesdays from Daylesford and Fridays from Glenlyon and, of course, it will be freight free. Refills - sorry we won’t be providing this service.

Please remember we are an online store now so you won’t be able to call as there is no number, or swing by for favourite goodies. All orders need to be placed on the website with PayPal payment. If you can’t manage the payment or website get a friend or relative to do it for you. The reason for no phone number, refills and online orders only is it frees me up to do other things like more massage days at Aromatic Healing, hiking and most importantly spending time with family.

Looking forward to making your aromatherapy goodies.

Fiona, Daylesford Aromatherapy

www.daylesfordaromatherapy.com.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaylesfordAroma/ Instagram: daylesford_aromatherapy

BETTER BREATHING WELLNESS CLINIC

Labour out at Kyneton

K

YNETON District Health will suspend labour and birth care at the maternity service at Kyneton Hospital from September 30. However, pregnancy and postnatal care will continue to be provided.

Chief executive officer Maree Cuddihy said the safety of mothers and their babies and the provision of safe and high quality care always had to come first.

"In 2018-19 there were only 26 babies born at Kyneton District Health, with only women classified as low risk able to labour and birth in our birthing suite.

"The decision to change the maternity model of care to one that only provides care for women during their pregnancy, and then again after the baby is born, has followed a steady decline in births at the hospital."

Ms Cuddihy said there had also been increasing challenges in recruiting the skilled workforce required to support birthing.

"Recently one of our two GP obstetricians resigned from KDH. Across Australia there is a shortage of rural GP obstetricians and GP anaesthetists.

"Around 50 per cent of women are transferred to metropolitan or regional hospitals as their pregnancy progresses, due to changes to their or their baby’s health."

Ms Cuddihy said women who had been booked to birth at KDH would be supported to transfer to another health service to ensure it is a seamless transition for them.

"Women will be supported to return to KDH as soon as possible following birth and to have our staff provide support and care prior to returning home.

"Local women may still be able to receive pregnancy care at KDH under the care of midwives in an antenatal clinic, with obstetrician oversight coming from the hospital where they are booked to birth.

"KDH recognizes the importance of local access to pregnancy care and we will develop formal arrangements with the larger metropolitan and regional hospitals to streamline the care for pregnant women."

AVAILABLE FROM SEPTEMBER 19

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In an emergency always call 000 Daylesford

10 Hospital St | tel: (03) 5348 2227

Trentham 22 Victoria St | tel: (03) 5424 1602

Dear Prospective Families, The Daylesford Dharma School is a small, independent Prep – Grade 6 school offering a unique and inspiring approach to Primary schooling, drawing upon the methods and teachings of the ancient wisdom and philosophies of Buddhism. Central to these teachings is a life lived with deep compassion and with the true desire to help reduce suffering. An education that is based upon compassion is an education that supports children to explore and to question the world in which they live, to move through this world with loving kindness, and to act as generous and compassionate citizens who will foster personal, social and environmental balance and harmony.

Mindfulness sits at the core of our school and we adopt a non-religious and secular approach to mindful teaching and learning, supported by daily meditations and an Awareness Program designed to nurture Deep Listening and Loving Speech, Generosity, Reverence for Life, Mindful Consumption, and Body Responsibility.

We teach the Australian Curriculum and our educational program aims to bring learning to life by providing children with regular opportunities to engage in hands-on and authentic learning opportunities, designed to help them more deeply understand themselves, their peers, their community and the environment. We have a high teacher to student ratio and maintain small class sizes, allowing all children to learn and grow in a warm, intimate and deeply supportive learning community.

Our school sits on 22 acres on the outskirts of Daylesford, and offers simple, comfortable and unassuming facilities that blend in with the natural landscape. Having recently moved to our new permanent home after nine years operating out of leased premises, our children are actively involved in the planning and design of their surrounds, including planting veggie gardens and fruit trees, creating playground areas and planting sensory and meditation gardens.

Community sits at the heart of our school, and we have a strong, supportive and engaged parent community who gathers together regularly to support projects and events, support children’s learning and to just enjoy one another’s company. We also engage in regular learning within the local community, working on projects with the Friends of Cornish Hill, visiting our local aged care regularly and ensuring children feel connected to and a part of our wider community.

We would love to meet you at our Open Morning or one of our Information Sessions and I am also very happy to conduct individual school tours for families as well. We are now enrolling for 2020, and due to our commitment to small class sizes, we do encourage families to enrol as soon as possible.

With my warmest regards, Jen Willis (Principal)

Sal’s Salon

Winter specials

Cut and Blow Wave $35 $30 pensioner Half head of foils, Cut and Blow Wave $100 Tint, Cut and Blow Wave $65

@Daylesfordnailboutique www.daylesfordnailboutique.com

22 Raglan Street, Daylesford New phone number 0422 228 920

RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE LIVING NOW IS THE TIME Accommodation now available at Daylesford, Creswick and Trentham.

An opportunity not to be missed.

Residential aged care is more affordable than ever before.

Permanent/Respite care 24 Hour nursing and personal care Full accreditation with aged care quality agency

DON'T MISS OUT

For all enquiries contact Hepburn Health 53216595 • agedcare@hhs.gov.au

VR4504945

Shared rooms 1/2 price at just $100k at Creswick and Daylesford

www.tlnews.com.au

Markets 15

To market, to market, to buy fresh tomatoes

Y

OU can find everything you need at weekend markets, from fresh fruit and veg to handmade jewellery and wares, throughout the Central Highlands and surrounds. Here are just a few.

Daylesford Sunday Market – every Sunday (Pictured right) Wesley Hill Market - every Saturday Daylesford Farmers Market – first Saturday Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market - first Saturday Golden Plains Farmers Market - first Saturday Woodend Farmers Market - first Saturday Castlemaine Artists’ Market – first Sunday Trentham Community Group Market - second Saturday Kyneton Farmers Market - second Saturday Ballan Farmers Market - second Saturday Kyneton Rotary Community Market – second Saturday Maldon Market – second Sunday Clunes Farmers Market - second Sunday Trentham Farmers Market and Makers Market - third Saturday Glenlyon Farmers Market – third Saturday Leonards Hill Market - third Saturday Creswick Market - third Saturday Talbot Farmers Market – third Sunday Woodend Lions Market - third Sunday Trentham Station Sunday Market - fourth Sunday Buninyong Village Market - fourth Sunday

The Trentham Farmers Market has joined with Trentham Makers Market

Third Saturday, 9am - 1pm

TRENTHAM PETROL & STUFF 1 Market St PH 5424 1611 Mon - Sat 8am - 6pm Sun 9am - 6pm Petrol, oils, swap & go gas, firewood permits, farm produce / produce store, ice, milk, soft drinks, take-away pies, coffee, confectionery, local honey etc. rusty junk, secondhand books, old wares

House.Land.Home.

IF WALLS COULD TALK by Dominic Romeo

W

HY do some buyers cringe when a historic property with a heritage listing presents itself on the market? The general perception is that a property with some form of heritage protection cannot be altered. People immediately think of governmental restrictions, delays and inconveniences. Heritage bodies are not militant.

There are processes however, but they also understand that we are living in the modern world.

So what is heritage?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary: “features belonging to the culture of a particular society - such as traditions, languages or buildings that were created in the past and still have historical importance".

In reference to historic buildings, it is commonly believed that they need to be 100 years or older to be classed as “heritage”. This is not true. For instance we have many buildings from the post WWII period which have heritage listings, as they can be of historical importance as much as buildings from the earlier Colonial period, for example; former Olympic Pool Melbourne C. 1954 – 56 is historically significant as the only major stadium structure remaining from the 1956 Olympic Games. It is also architecturally important as an early and influential landmark in the development of Structuralist architecture in Australia in the post war period.

So what is a heritage listing?

A heritage listed building is one that is historically or culturally significant. A government body has decided that it is worth preserving its heritage significance taking into account its aesthetic, architectural, historic, scientific or social values.

Historic heritage places are recorded in many different heritage lists: World, National, Commonwealth, State and Local. The places on some lists are protected by legislation, other lists offer no protection but are maintained as useful sources of information. For example, community and professional organisations maintain lists, including those kept by the National Trusts in most States and Territories. These lists do recognise special places, however they do not provide legal protection. There are also some buildings that may not be included on any lists, but it is still necessary to recognise and protect their heritage value. And believe it or not – a property can be delisted.

Examples of heritage listings include:

Local Overlay - Local councils record and protect places of value to the local community. It may be a place where the first local Mayor lived or once the home of a famous Australian figure. Places of local significance may be protected by listing on a schedule to the Heritage Overlay under the local council's planning scheme. Local government manages the identification and protection of places under the planning scheme. Councils are responsible for issuing planning permits for the use and development of heritage places; and Classification by the National Trust - The National Trust of Australia is a community-based non-government, not-for-profit organisation and as such has no statutory power. The National Trust works towards preserving and protecting heritage places and objects – this can include buildings, for example - Como, Rippon Lea or the Old Melbourne Goal in Melbourne, objects such as furniture or items, (Ned Kelly’s pistol or the ship Polly Woodside ) or landscapes (Bells Beach in Victoria or Mt Elephant in the Western District of Victoria). Classification by the National Trust does not entail legal recognition. Although the National Trust plays an important role in advocating heritage protection, it is not responsible for issuing heritage or planning permits. If a place becomes threatened, the Trust may campaign and advocate for its protection. Specific campaigns are conducted to save threatened places, to stimulate debate and to raise the level of public and government awareness of the need to conserve our heritage Heritage places and objects of “state significance” are listed on the State Register – in Victoria known as the Victorian Heritage Register.

The State Register lists and provides legal protection for heritage places and objects that are significant to the history and development of the State and meet the assessment criteria. Heritage places can include buildings, trees, parks and gardens, streetscapes, archaeological sites, furniture and equipment or structures such as bridges. Registered heritage places are legally protected and cannot be altered without a permit or permit exemption from Heritage Victoria.

Next month I will tackle the misconception that a heritage-listed property devalues property. Does heritage or a heritage listing impact on residential property values? In the meantime if you have any property queries or would like Circa to appraise your property please contact Sue Gratton on 0407 599 559 or Dominic Romeo on 0438 500 277.

Advertorial

REIV round up

FOR SALE

W

quarter.

CAWDOR

111 Mount Macedon Road, Macedon

5

4

2

3

10 acres

A truly exceptional country home

Set in an elevated position and framed by stunning northerly views to Mt. Macedon, ‘Cawdor’ is a sophisticated country home on 10 acres of prime undulating land, meticulously renovated and presented to impressive standards. An enormous master wing including private study, separate family wing including large laundry/boot room with own entry, formal/casual living and dining, designer kitchen, private courtyard, kitchen garden and orchard complete the idyll.

Outbuildings include charming studio/guest accommodation/5th bedroom with kitchenette and ensuite, gothic inspired chicken shed, colonial style barn plus fully lined and insulated garage. This is a rare opportunity to purchase an exceptional property on acreage in a prime location.

For any further information or to arrange an inspection, please contact

Sue Gratton | 0407 599 559 | www.circaheritageandlifestyle.com.au

OODEND has made the top five for the Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s latest median house price release for the most expensive property market in regional Victoria for the March to June

At the top of the list was Barwon Heads with a median house price of $996,000, having increased 1.6 per cent in the quarter and 4.8 per cent for the year to 30 June 2019.

Coming in second was Gisborne where the median house price is $835,000, an increase of 2.1 per cent for the quarter and 9.9 per cent for the financial year.

Torquay’s median house price dipped 1.4 per cent for the June quarter, taking it to $831,000, but the surf haven is still making a strong third place appearance on the most expensive list.

Newtown and Woodend rounded out the top five with their medians sitting at $800,000 and $792,500 respectively.

House hunters looking for a bargain should cast their eyes on the Gippsland property market, with the top three most affordable suburbs sitting within the city of Latrobe. Morwell was the most affordable suburb in the REIV’s latest data release with a median house price of $178,000 – up 1.7 per cent for the quarter and 3.5 per cent for the financial year.

Churchill’s median house price also increased, by 3.3 per cent for the quarter and 6.1 per cent for the year, making it the second most affordable property market in Regional Victoria with a median of $189,500.

Moe’s median house price is sitting at exactly $200,000, having increased 5.3 per cent over the past 12 months and the top five list is rounded out by Ararat and Stawell that have median house prices of $209,000 and $215,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, while not on the most expensive list because the REIV only includes towns with a minimum of 50 sales in the past 12 months, Lorne again made the million dollar club with a median of $1.21m while Riddells Creek tipped over the $1m median for the first time last quarter at $1.01 million.

Link: www.reiv.com.au/market-insights

DAYLESFORD & CRESWICK

HEPBURN SPRINGS 2 CHURCH AVENUE IDEAL POSITION WITH SUBDIVISION POTENTIAL (STCA) Situated in Hepburn Springs in walking distance to Mineral Springs Reserve, local restaurants and the iconic Hepburn Palais. This terrific property offers many possibilities, live in, rent out, subdivide (STCA) or develop. The home feature 2 good sized bedrooms, a recently updated bathroom with walk in shower, timber floorboards, open plan kitchen/dining and a separate living space with views over the bushland surrounds. Outside the established garden features established trees, raised vegetable beds, and grassed areas.

a2 b1 c2

FOR SALE PRICE $460,000 CONTACT Tom Shaw 0438 118 903 Michael DeVincentis 0417 142 152 OFFICE 43 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2328

PREMIER LOCATION 2 TITLES RESIDENTIAL ZONE Superbly located opposite the Hepburn Bathhouse and Mineral Springs Reserve, this genuinely rare property comprises a vacant allotment with 2 Titles (to be sold together).

- Vacant land with 2 Titles: Lot 1 - 502 sq.m, Lot 2 - 503 sq.m - Road access to front, side and rear - General Residential Zone – Hepburn Shire - Power, sewerage, water ready for connection.

Natural gas, telephone available

FOR SALE PRICE $300,000 entire property CONTACT Rae Corris 0408 358 772 OFFICE 43 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2328

CLUNES 2/24 BECKWITH STREET

ELEVATED PLAINS 9 DEEP VALLEY LANE PANORAMIC VIEWS OVER AN ANCIENT LANDSCAPE This outstanding rural allotment of 3 acres is located on the edge of Hepburn amidst an ancient and rugged landscape.

Just a few minutes’ drive from Hepburn Springs and Daylesford township, the property features panoramic views to the west over the deep valley and Jim Crow Creek, providing an ideal site for a contemporary country residence (STCA) nestled into the spectacular countryside.

- 3 acres over 2 Titles (3 allotments) - Rural Living Zone – Hepburn Shire

HEPBURN SPRINGS 2 FOREST AVENUE

FOR SALE Contact Agent CONTACT Rae Corris 0408 358 772 OFFICE 43 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2328

ID and contact details are required at all open for inspections

BUILD ON BECKWITH. 867M2 WITH ALL SERVICES SUPPLIED! A fantastic opportunity to build your new home on this great building block just minutes from the centre of town with all available services supplied.

This flat allotment of 867m2(approx) is located just a short morning stroll to Clunes train station while still maintaining a rustic country charm. With power, water and sewerage all being supplied to the property, you can buy and build with confidence.

- 15 minutes to Creswick & 30 minutes to Daylesford

FOR SALE PRICE $150,000 CONTACT Nik Bradley 0448 407 387 OFFICE 32 Albert Street, Creswick 5345 1073

bigginscott.com.au

House.Land.Home.

Design with Indre Kisonas

Hanging is not a capital punishment

Hanging things on a wall is an effective way to decorate and personalise your space but it is the number one call-out I get from scared homeowners, not knowing how to do it.

It doesn't have to be an artwork and it doesn’t have to be the same frames.

Photographs, plates, baskets, souvenirs, cards and mementos can all be important to you and you can make them decorative, provided they are hung with visual balance.

Visual balance means that your eye must find harmony in the arrangement.

A few basic suggestions can have your walls looking like a gallery presentation.

Hang at eye level. This is important and it can depend on family height. When frames are not the same and there are multiple hangings around a room, level the centres of your frames rather than making the tops or bottoms level.

Symmetrical arrangements are more formal and suit traditional homes.

Uniformity and a greater focal point is created when frames are the same size and shape. Hang these in a straight line or a grid pattern (square or rectangle).

Asymmetrical is fluid and modern. This can suit an odd shaped space, such as up the stairs or around a piece of furniture. Suit your decorating to your home’s style.

Consider the size of your available wall space. Keep small pieces between windows and doors, as small items will look lost on a large wall. Consider a multiple hanging if you have many small pieces. Large pieces require a large space, so not to overpower and crowd. Often you need to take a step back to view larger works and remember, a work over a sofa or sideboard ideally is 2/3rds the size of the furniture piece.

I love the idea of a family photo wall. Keeping them all together creates a viewing experience and prevents clutter, as often happens when single photo frames are positioned sporadically throughout the home. These multiple hangings require some preparation and can cause extreme worry for those tasked with the hanging.

If the arrangement is symmetrical and in a grid with non-uniform frames, put the heaviest looking piece on the bottom left as our eye will naturally travel from left to right and heavy is always on the bottom.

If the arrangement is asymmetrical, place the heaviest looking piece in the middle and work outward. Gaps between frames should be evenly spaced.

When attempting a multiple hanging, it is a good idea to make the arrangement on the floor before you begin hammering in nails. 3M Command or similar peel-off hooks are great for repositioning without leaving holes in walls.

For those of us who are prone to exactness and must use measuring tapes and levels before hammering in nails, I suggest the use of paper. Trace each frame onto paper, mark which paper is for which frame and tape the arrangement to the wall.

This way you can measure up from the floor, between frames and mark where each hook will go by measuring the string length or hook height on the back of each work. If these are portraits or photos, note which direction the faces point and where they are looking, to make some connection in the arrangement. Look out for the same colours. Colour also needs to visually balance.

Finally, we all know where to position a hook on the wall for a frame. Get the half-way point on the top of the frame and measure down to where the string is taut or the hook lies. X marks the spot on the wall. Easy, isn't it?

Indre Kisonas- owner and principal designer iok design www.iokdesign.com.au indre@iokdesign.com.au

Watching the grass grow...

So, Spring is knocking at the garden gate. Everything around me is busting with impatience and fecundity, desperate to fill our gardens with a lush new season’s growth and garlands of colourful blooms. I have even spotted my first tentative daffodil bud among the towering foliage of my unkempt front lawn.

Well, not really a lawn, a patch of self-sufficient feral grass really. My garden survives on whatever falls out of the sky and a miserly metered, trickle-fed watering network. I don’t care to squander my precious water supply to maintain a swathe of poncey grass.

When we moved into our house in the middle years of the previous serious drought we inherited a bunch of once-beautiful, ageing trees and shrubs suffering amidst wall-to-wall sunburnt country.

With some TLC and judicious pruning, the existing plantings formed a great background for what is now a somewhat pleasant garden. The sweeping expanse of "lawn" which once needed a largish self-propelled mower to keep in hand has gradually receded into several grassed areas now requiring 30 minutes or so with a dinky electric mower.

And therein lies the rub. As much as I appreciate the benefits of regular rain, and even thrill to see the garden swathed in snow, this season’s continual bouts of cold, misty weather have, so far, managed to keep the ever-increasingly tall grass in a perpetual state of dripping wet.

Call me a wuss, but, I have no desire to risk clogging up the works, or worse, becoming next Sunday’s chargrill. I’ll just have to endure the jungle until we get a run of enough dry days to attack it.

Your motor mower has, more than likely, probably not seen much action for the past few months either. So until it can, you should take advantage of the spell and give it a pre-Spring makeover.

The first and probably most important task is to drain off and replace the motor oil. The spark plug will also need seeing to. If it isn’t in too bad shape, clean the points off with a nail or points file to remove any deposits and reset the gap. I find it’s always a lot easier and more efficient to actually replace the plug altogether. That’s always the best way to ensure minimum hauling on the rope and a smoother run through the season.

Oil or grease all the wheel bearings and, while you’re at it, turn the mower over and after cleaning off all the congealed dried clippings and mud, oil or use a lubricating spay on the motor bearings and blade swivel points. Finally give the air cleaner the once over as well, replacing if necessary. At least now you are off to a good start when the weather is finally right.

Hello sunshine

The weather might be dim and the golden sunshine of daffodils and other Spring-flowering bulbs a little time off yet, but there are still other flowering plants to cheer and bring colour to the late winter days.

Among the best of them are the multitude of varieties of the proteaceae tribe which includes our own banksia, telopea (waratah), isopogon and, of course, South Africa’s wonderful proteas, leucospermum and, pictured here, leucadendron. They are all hardy, easily grown, especially in our local soils and climate, and require only a little protection from severe frosts while young.

Coming as they do, in many forms from low ground covers to small shrubby trees, there will always be a spot for at least one somewhere in your garden.

n ay o ispl s at d On urday na’s Sat a Do St. on mm Ma Mollis . n 138 Kyneto

Pride Furniture “WE CREATE FURNITURE SUSTAINABLY AND RESPONSIBLY” Factory 7-37 East Street, Daylesford Phone: 0402 474 019 Email: pridefurniture@y7mail.com PrideFurnitureMelbourne Tuesday-Friday 9am - 3pm Sunday-Monday by appointment

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Bells Water Gardens @ Newlyn

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We are passionate about building natural eco-system ponds, adding beauty and encouraging wildlife, allowing interaction with nature. Water gardens built by us are quiet, contemplative places to rest and energise the senses.

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Rescue time WITH the big dump of snow on August 11, the Hepburn Shire SES's 15 members jumped into action, responding to 40 requests for help.

The majority of the incidents were trees down with large limbs falling from the weight of the snow. There were also powerlines down and buildings damaged. The unit has three 4WDs and being classed as a sub-alpine unit are well equipped with alpine jackets and warm clothing. SES member Emily Pullen who took these photos, said while it was hard work the "snow was beautiful" and "much nicer being out in the middle of the night without the wind and the rain".

22 Dine review

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Mercato now also offering à la carte selection

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ERCATO in Daylesford has long been known as a great venue for fine dining.

Tucked away in a renovated cottage under mature elm trees, Mercato has been providing delicious food and a broad selection of great wines to visitors and locals for many years. And owners David Cook and Carroll Byrne, who took on the restaurant in 2016, have maintained Mercato’s well earned reputation while expanding the dining options.

Its highly regarded dégustation menu remains but now there is also a range of tapas and café-style dining on offer as well as an ever-evolving evening à la carte selection. We drove into town on a windy night to meet head chef Brad Delaney who took us though some of the great dishes on offer.

“We still have our popular dégustation selection, but we have been busy developing our à la carte menu also. It’s another great way to enjoy our great array of locally sourced ingredients including greens from my own aquaponic set-up.”

Brad pays close attention to every detail in his culinary masterpieces and is very knowledgeable. It made choosing that much easier and we went with all his recommendations for our entrée and mains. As for wines, well that came down to our host Isabel and Mercato is very fortunate to have her on the floor. Isabel has been with the restaurant for many years and it shows in her professionalism and great knowledge of the many excellent wines on offer.

To begin I selected the porchetta for my entree. This dish features caramelised sweet and sour pork belly with an Asian salad and crushed peanuts ($21). It is great to have combinations of European and Asian flavours coming together as it did here with the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the pork offset by a zesty salad. And the Malmsbury-sourced Zig Zag Road riesling ($15 per glass) was a delicious and elegant accompaniment.

Amanda went with the heirloom beetroot and Meredith goat’s cheese salad with candied walnuts, pomegranate seeds, dill and basil-infused olive oil ($19.50). This is a great, hearty salad and featured a rich selection of earthy flavours. The walnuts were beautiful and an infusion of balsamic vinegar was perfect with the high-quality olive oil. The selected wine was a Geoff Merrill Pimpala Road chardonnay ($15 per glass) coming from Woodcroft, South Australia and boasting a full-fruit flavour with just a hint of a citrusy acidity on the tail.

For mains, Brad recommended the ossobuco alla Milanese. This dish is a real treat for a winter's evening with a large portion of slow-cooked beef, tender root vegetables and crispy shaved parsnip all sitting on a bed of perfectly prepared saffron risotto ($43). For sides there were steamed beans, toasted almonds and oven-crisp prosciutto ($10.50). Such Italian comfort food necessitated a McIvor Estate Mr Mundy shiraz ($15). This wine comes out of Heathcote, a locale that is a real name on the map as far as the production of great medium-bodied shiraz wine goes.

Across the table from me there appeared la anatra, featuring confit leg of duck ($43). Confit comes from the French word confire which means literally "to preserve". In meat cooking, this requires the meat to be salted as part of the preservation process. That said, Amanda’s confit duck though French at a fundamental level was a superb fusion of Europe and Asian, simmered as it was in a red curry sauce served with Thai steamed rice and house-made naan bread. A choice of sides came down to roasted Brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, and lardon ($10.50). Isabel recommended a Palazzo sangiovese from the Yarra Valley ($15) and there is nothing like a deep dark red sangiovese with aromas of dark cherries, dried herbs and wellintegrated tannins to offset such an awesome meal.

And so, it is time for dessert and what choices! For me there was no point going past the strawberry and coconut pannacotta with fruit coulis and fresh berries ($19).

In contrast, my table mate went for the chocolate marquise, coulis and berry ice cream ($20). Incidentally, we didn’t choose a wine to go with afters as that would have been a little too decadent.

A great evening was rounded out with these rich desserts and we were not the only ones. On a Thursday evening you don’t expect too many people to be sharing your night out but at Mercato, even during the week, other diners were there to enjoy the relaxing, romantic ambience this restaurant is famous for.

Mercato is now offering two dining spaces from Thursday, July 18.

Enter the door on the left where we will be offering breakfast from 8am until 11am and lunch with a different price point from 12 until 3pm.

Enter the door on the right for the Mercato you all know and love for lunch from 12 until 3pm and dinner from 6pm until late with our new a la carte “comfort food”.

Words & images: Anthony Sawrey More images on p26!

32 Raglan St, Daylesford Phone: (03) 5348 4488 Download WOWAPPS from the Apple Store or the Google Play Store, and search for MERCATO@DAYLESFORD”

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Mamma Dona’s Restaurant

Kyneton’s Little Italy!

Traditional Home-Cooked Italian Favorites 138 Mollison St, Kyneton 5422 1106 Wed & Thur:12pm-8pm Fri & Sat: 12pm-Late Sunday:12pm-4.30pm Wed - Fri, 1 child meal free with every adult main meal.

Mammadonas @mamma_donas

www.mineralspringshotel.com.au Bookings Essential: 03 5348 2202 124 Main Rd Hepburn Springs

Dining 23

Hans Holbein talk

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NTHONY Russell will present The Mystery of Holbein’s Ambassadors at the Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday, September 12 at 6.30pm as part of Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society Central Victoria.

Hans Holbein was the first great mainland painter to spend much time in England and he brought with him a sophistication and skill with far reaching consequences for England's artistic development.

Holbein's The Ambassadors is recognised by the National Gallery of London as one of its greatest treasures. It dates from a tradition in the arts when no object was without meaning and symbolism. However, practically all of this meaning has been lost to the modern observer.

This lecture considers the tempestuous circumstances of its creation and the hidden messages concealed within it. The painting tells much about the state of Europe at the time and the hopes and fears of its major players.

Entry is $30. Details: Nicky on 0400 958 449.

Locals Night at The Argus Every Monday $45 per person “feed me”.

Local seasonal food prepared by our chefs in a shared banquet style for two or more.

Includes a glass of local house wine or beer.

THURSDAY

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Mains from $22

Locals Menu – all day when everyone is a local 2 Courses $32 3 Courses $37 3 Courses + Wine of Week $42

Kids menu & regular menu also available

Thursday to Saturday 11am – close Sunday 11am – 4pm 31 High Street, Trentham (03) 5424 1144

theplough.com.au

FUNCTIONS

Private dining room Catering for 8-30 guests Set menus available

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2n onth of the m o 8.30pm t m p 0 3 6.

1st Thursday of the month - 11am to 12pm

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8 Camp St - Daylesford | 03 5348 2130 | www.daylesfordbowlingclub.com.au Stay updated on the latest events by visiting our website or Facebook page

Daylesford

Christmas in Winter

Book a mid-year Christmas party for your team with a 3-course plated lunch or dinner for $60.

Including festive decorations & a complimentary glass of beer or wine per person.

Valid from 1st July to 31st August 2019.

Fancy making it a getaway?

Ask about our accommodation & breakfast special offer.

Bookings: 03 5348 2202

www.mineralspringshotel.com.au 124 Main Rd Hepburn Springs | (03) 5348 2202

Cellarbrations @ foxxy’s - our region’s largest local and boutique wine specialists.

Open every day until late.

55 Vincent Street, Daylesford.

5348 3577

Do you feed and water people?

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BUFFET LUNCH, SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

Spoil dad with a buffet lunch at Bellinzona Resort this Father’s Day Enjoy a selection of antipasto, followed by a diverse range of hearty dishes including beef, pork belly and salmon with a finale of decadent desserts.

Every dad who dines in will receive a FREE glass of beer and will go into the draw to win an overnight glamping experience at Balgownie Estate Bendigo in a Safari Tent!* *Terms and conditions apply.

From 12pm - 3pm Adults $55 per person | Children $18 per child Book on 5348 2271 or online at bellinzona.com.au/events bellinzona.com.au

prestige retreats

26 Out & About

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Meal deals!

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VERYONE loves a good meal deal. So here are some of the dining establishments offering great food and great prices!

Monday: Peppers Mineral Springs, Hepburn - Feed me - includes a glass of beer or wine $45pp

Wednesday: Mamma Dona's, Kyneton - a range of parmas, $15 takeaway or $18 eat in Bellinzona, Hepburn - two/three courses & a glass of wine - $40/$50

Thursday: Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford – Steak Night - $25 The Plough, Trentham - Locals' All Day Dining - 2 courses $27/3 courses $32

Friday: Criterion Hotel, Castlemaine - Express Jalapeno Poppers $12, Fried Chicken Wings $12, Refried Bean Rolls $12, Fried Baby Calamari Tostada $16, 12-2.30pm The 5000 Club, Daylesford - noon every Friday at Victoria Park, Daylesford.

Wednesday-Friday: Mamma Dona's, Kyneton - one children's meal free with every adult main meal

Sunday: Daylesford Hotel, Daylesford - Roast, a pot or glass of wine or soft drink - $25

Raffles: Fundraising raffles for local organisations are held on Friday evenings at the Farmers Arms Hotel, Daylesford and the Daylesford Bowling Club.

Gig Guide Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel, Hepburn Live music - 2nd and 4th Friday of the month

Blue Bean Love Cafe, Hepburn Aurora - Friday, August 30 The Old Married Couple - Saturday, August 31 (pictured below) Ellerby - Sunday, September 1 North East - Friday, September 6 Paige & Wayne - Saturday, September 7 Open mic - Sunday, September 8 The Mary Janes - Friday, September 13 Buck Edwards - Saturday, September 14 Next Episode - Sunday, September 15 Meet The Brewer - Shedshaker - Friday, September 20 Jefferson Smith - Saturday, September 21 Jazz Deuce - Sunday, September 22

Palais-Hepburn, Hepburn Springs Cookin' on 3 Burners – Friday, August 30, 7.30pm World Circus Cabaret Festival – Saturday, August 31, 7.30pm All ages open mic – Thursday, September 5, 6pm Kerryn Fields and Jess Parker – Friday, September 6, 7.30pm Flappers Ball (women’s only event) – Saturday, September 7, 7.30pm Bluehouse – Sunday, September 8, 2m-4.30pm Harry Lamb – Friday, September 13, 7.30pm Shane Nicholson – Saturday, September 14, 7.30pm

Daylesford RSL, Daylesford Open mic hosted by Scott McCallum - 1st Sunday of the month, 3pm-5pm, register on 0412 234 007

Got a gig coming up? Email news@tlnews.com.au It's free!

The Old Married Couple will play at the Blue Bean Love Cafe in Hepburn on Saturday, August 31

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Best club in Victoria

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Out & About 27

From left, vice president Colin Wilson, president Keith Webster and coach Stuart Leong

RENTHAM Golf Club has won the 2019 Victorian Golf Club of the Year.

President Keith Webster said the award was great recognition of the club’s work over a long period of time in improving the course, club management and its offerings to both members and visitors.

“As a club managed by volunteers, the award recognises not just the work of the Committee, but every member of the club who pitches in and helps.”

Meanwhile, Trentham member and resident Stuart Leong, who coaches at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne and also part-time at Trentham, won the 2019 Victorian PGA Coach of the Year Award.

The club award recognises the club’s outstanding achievements in financial management, planning, volunteering, technology, memberships, environmental planning and beginner clinics, especially for women.

Recently Trentham has developed a strategic plan, completed a water security program, developed flexible pay-for-play memberships and put its membership system online. In terms of member and visitor service, the club has a great food offering and visitor welcome through their “Birdie Kitchen” caterers.

Over the past two decades, the club has spent $500,000 rebuilding all its greens to United States Golf Association standards.

Trentham has also made use of modern technology by developing a comprehensive website with online joining, membership payments and tournament entry. Social media usage through Facebook and Instagram now has more than 1300 followers.

All competitions and events are operated using the OneGolf competition and handicap management system. A green fee ticket machine, adapted from parking machine technology, enables credit card payments when the clubhouse is not open.

The Victorian Golf Industry Awards are supported by Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and Golf Management Victoria.

Words: Contributed

Edible gardens open for Daffodil Festival Our Lady of the Rosary Primary students, from left, Kuppah and Ryan, work on the school's edible garden

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DIBLE gardens will be open on September 7 and 8 as part of the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. Three of the 12 open gardens are those of schools taking part for the first time - Taradale Primary School (Stephanie Alexander Garden), Macedon Primary School and Our Lady of the Rosary Primary.

Some gardens have been showing each year such as the popular garden of Jan and Doug McIver. Jan demonstrates many sustainable ways of using local resources, for example the importance of hugelkultur in keeping moisture and nutrients in the soil. She is also known as the Raspberry Queen as she has a substantial patch of raspberries and is happy to give away raspberries and plants to everyone, especially at the community food swap held by the Kyneton Transition Hub at the Kyneton Farmer’s Market.

The Community Garden is inside the grounds of the Kyneton Secondary College and demonstrates productive compost, wicking beds, compost tea and biochar. Meanwhile, the Kyneton Edible Garden is in the grounds of the Kyneton Community House and its produce is used for the community lunches every Wednesday at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute.

There are new gardens such as Zen’s garden, which is named after a much-loved family member and the garden has grown up since the 1980s with the Upper Coliban Reservoir as a backdrop. Ken and Moira Hourigan will open their large garden where vegetables flourish amongst the ornamentals and obviously enjoy their company. Seeds and cuttings for edible plants are nearly all obtained from neighbours, family and friends.

Meanwhile, Lyn Godfrey is demonstrating her very small edible garden and has great ideas for those who don’t have a lot of room.

Organiser Nea Gyorffy said visitors were encouraged to learn and exchange ideas about growing sustainable, organic edible plants. “Working edible gardens are not necessarily pretty but are all about maintaining productive, rich soil, producing fresh food without using chemicals and reducing the cost of food but not compromising quality…and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. It is incredibly satisfying when you can step out your door and pluck a juicy eggplant or zucchini from the garden and prepare it for your meal.”

All information about the times and where the gardens are is in the Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival and Kyneton Transition Hub brochures and the Kyneton Mechanics Institute, the official information centre during the festival. Or Nea on 0419 874 735.

Links: kynetondaffodilarts.org.au, kynetontransitionhub.com or Facebook.

Words: Contributed | Image: David White

28 News

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Nature Diary with Tanya Loos

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OR me, Spring does not start on September 1. It starts when our local flora and fauna changes in response to a shift in the season – longer days, and slightly higher temperatures.

In late August bright yellow tones enliven our bush and gardens, with the first wattles flowering and bulbs such as daffodils pushing through the winter mulch. And the soundscape changes too…

On a recent sunny and relatively warm day (I think it was a blistering 11 degrees!)

I heard a repeated descending whistle, “tseeuw tseeeuw”. And high up in an almost dead eucalypt I could see a very small bird with a very loud call.

A bronze-cuckoo, one of the smallest cuckoos in the world. More often heard than seen, bronze-cuckoos are brown and white striped underneath, with a lovely green shimmer on the wings and back. This one, with a descending whistle call was a Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo. The Horsfield’s looks very similar to a close relative the shining bronze-cuckoo who has a rising call, and a subtly different breast stripe pattern.

The bronze-cuckoos fly down to our forests each Spring to carry out their dastardly business of tricking parent birds of other species into raising their young.

Being so small, the host birds are also small: most often superb fairy-wrens and small brown bush birds such as thornbills, but also sometimes robins.

When the female bronze-cuckoo is ready to lay her eggs, she waits on an inconspicuous perch, secretly watching her chosen host species build their nest. It is most important that she hides, for if the host species see her they will abandon the nest, and build another one elsewhere.

After the eggs are laid, and the parents are away feeding, the female sneaks into the nest and lays one egg in just a few seconds.

After the young cuckoo is born, they get to work. Even though they are blind and featherless like most baby birds born in nests, they are certainly not harmless. Within 24 – 30 hours, the tough little chick sets about evicting all the fairy wren or thornbill eggs from the nest. They even have a special little hollow in their back in which they balance the host’s egg as they push it from the nest. All cuckoo chicks that evict eggs have this clever morphological modification.

Then, when the cuckoo is born, the chick does not have to compete for food, and is the sole beneficiary of the parents’ hard work raising this intruder.

Bronze-cuckoos are usually the first cuckoos to start calling at this time of year.

Later, as it warms up further, we will hear the descending trill of the fan-tailed cuckoo, the rising somewhat crazy call of the pallid cuckoo, and perhaps even the very loud “kooeel” of the eastern koel.

"The bronze-cuckoos fly down to our forests each Spring to carry out their dastardly business of tricking parent birds of other species into raising their young."

Tanya Loos is a keen field naturalist who spends a lot of time wandering around the bush in our beautiful region. She loves writing about nature and science - she blogs at https://tanyaloos.wordpress.com/ Image: Patrick Kavanagh

If this doesn’t turn you on... you haven’t got a switch!

1119 Creswick Newstead Road. Sandon (20 minutes outside of Daylesford) Phone 0401 129 337 Extreme 4x4 Farm Drive

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Our history 29

Down the Shaft - a series by The Local journalist Anthony Sawrey

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Without warning the quartz face gave away and the men found themselves struggling against freezing, rushing water filling the tunnel. A survivor describes the initial deluge in harrowing detail published in The Age: "Henry Reeves, the contractor for the sank reef drive, was in the face, and he says Those hazards included anything from falls down open shafts to tunnel collapses, the water broke away over the point of the back laths without the slightest warning, explosions, respiratory diseases and accidents involving dangerous machinery. Such scenarios were ever present dangers and death and serious injuries were very common increasing in volume every second.

"He, with his mate, William Mason, immediately ran to the plat, and thence and an inescapable part of the reality of this work. made their way to the intermediate level by means of the ladders. In the meantime But nothing unsettled a miner more than the prospect of flooding, of being the water rushed from the south drive into the north drive, where more than 30 trapped in darkness with rising water, thinning oxygen and little hope of rescue. The miners were working 2500ft (762m) from the shaft in the washdirt faces." mining operations around Creswick, like all the rest in Victoria, had to deal with Of the miners working on the affected drives, only five managed to climb out the constant intrusion of flooding in tunnel systems and invested a great deal into of the main shaft to raise the alarm. Immediately the water pumps were stoked into keeping water under control. overdrive, attempting to push the water out and save the men still trapped. However, Huge steam-driven pumps at every site usually managed the problem and for it would be three days until the water levels were low enough for a rescue team to the most part water remained a nuisance and little more. However, at the New reach them. By that time 22 men had drowned in the Victorian Goldfields' worstAustralasian No.2 Deep Lead Gold Mine, north of town, things quickly turned ever mining tragedy. deadly; as recounted in the Bendigo Advertiser, Tuesday, December 12, 1882.

The list of the dead was a typical representation of the men who came to work the “A fearful mining disaster has occurred at Creswick, reminding one of some of deep leads of the area, the majority being from England and Ireland along with three the heart-rending occurrences in the mines at home, in which numbers of men are suddenly bent to their account, families are deprived of their bread-winners, and wide Australians and several from Germany and Finland. Four thousand people marched in the funeral procession the following day, viewed by 15,000 onlookers. It was the spread distress is occasioned. It is indeed a piteous tale and is without parallel in the largest gathering of mourners in the history of Creswick. history of the Victorian mines.�

The New Australasian Mine was re-opened after the disaster, eventually yielding The site of the 1882 disaster was on the lease held by the Australasian Mining over 87,000 ounces of gold before closing five years later in 1887.

Company who discovered the Australasian Lead in the 1860s. The lead was a rich one, but the first shaft sunk (Australasia No.1) was abandoned due to flooding. A new Image: Illustrated Australian News 1883 - courtesy of Trove endeavour, the New Australasian Gold Mining Company, was formed in 1878 with new shaft (Australasian No.2) sunk to 80 metres down, around 200 metres away from the original hole.

Come December 1882, work was in progress constructing a drive - tunnels dug horizontally off the main vertical shafts following underground leads. But a catastrophic miscalculation of the location of old branches off No.1 shaft had led to the workers digging dangerously close to the flooded reaches of the disused complex.

HERE is no doubt that gold mining was dangerous, back-breaking work in the 1800s. Especially so when those operations moved deep underground after all the alluvial pickings were exhausted.

30 Crossword

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W RD

CROSS

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News 31

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Wombat Forestcare AGM The gentleness of Daylesford

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IM Low, author of Where Song Began, is the guest speaker at the Wombat Forestcare annual meeting on Saturday, September 7.

Mr Low will talk about his latest book The New Nature.

"The conservation movement talks about declining species, as it should, but this leaves many people unaware that some animals and plants are doing better today than ever before, because they have found ways to exploit us. Australia has winners as well as losers.

"Animals don’t have any concept of ‘natural’ or ‘unnatural’ so they don’t automatically recoil from cities and farms. Sometimes they can do better in cities than in forests – Australian cities and towns are gaining animals over time. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane now have peregrine falcons nesting on skyscrapers.

"Some urbanising species, notably corellas and flying foxes, are becoming sources of conflicts that need to be carefully considered. The notion of wilderness can get in the way of understanding all this because it implies that nature is authentic only when there is no human influence. But animals and plants have been benefiting from humans ever since Aboriginal people began burning the ‘wilderness’ to manage it."

Tim Low is a biologist and best-selling author of seven books about nature and conservation. Where Song Began won several prizes, including the Australian Book Industry Award for best general non-fiction. It was praised in the New York Review of Books and recommended by Scientific American magazine.

The event will be held at the Glenlyon Hall from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, with the meeting held after Tim’s talk. Cost is a donation.

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VERY year, during Words in Winter, typewriters appear in cafes around Daylesford and Hepburn. Locals and visitors are invited to write on them.

Out come tales of love found and lost, little verses about someone's 10-year-old son, or a note thanking a friend for caring for beloved dogs. There is optimism and hope. Here is this year's outstanding story, written in Cliffy's by James Robertson.

The Daily Commute You can hear it, in the hum of the engine, in the whirr of the gearbox. You can even smell it, in the puffs of smoke quietly popping from the exhaust pipe. It's a machine, a really, really big machine. Somehow I have become part of it. The daily peak hour commute takes about an hour. I like to think it would be relaxing, but that is rarely the case. There is this underlying anxiety of, "What if I'm late," or, "I should have finished that report".

Every day, for years, that little voice in my head said, "There has to be something more than this."

These days, my daily commute takes me somewhere that is warm and friendly. People I don't even know wave and smile as they walk past the window where I sit. The murmur in the background is of veggie gardens and bushwalks. It's about the cubby their kids are building out of sticks, and secret waterfalls. Here, no one asks what you do, or cares about what you wear or drive. All that seems irrelevant now.

With less traffic, less stress, I have found the "something more". Time has slowed down. As I look out the window, this beautiful place has just turned magical, softly and gently, like life in this town, snowflakes are falling from the sky.

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32 Trades

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Consulting in Administration & Management Book-keeping Administration Payroll Temp service Supplier monthly reconciliation Qualified to manage a small team of office workers Christ Jules Services Julie Hanson 0459 619 701 julphil.hanson@gmail.com www.christjulesservices.com.au

POOL AND SPA MAINTENANCE SERVICES DAYLESFORD AND SPA COUNTRY Over 25 years’ experience in the Pool and Spa industry.

Cleaning and servicing of pools, hot tubs and jacuzzis.

Water chemistry and water balance Commercial properties Domestic applications Reasonable rates All enquiries welcome Noel 0419 554 319 Declan 0438 212 107

PLASTERER DAYLESFORD FIBROUS PLASTER WORKS (MACKLEY’S) • NEW HOMES • RENOVATIONS • CEILING ROSES • ORNAMENTAL CORNICE Daylesford

Peter Mackley 5348 3085 or 0418 571 331 Gary Mackley 5348 1108

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Clement F Mooney

Email: c.mooney@bigpond.net.au Available to assist with all general accounting services and preparation/electronic lodgment of Tax Returns and BAS for Individuals, Sole Traders, Partnerships, Trusts and Companies.

A.B.N. 37 961 487 978

Certified Practising Accountant Registered Tax Agent B.Com, C.P.A., M.B.A.

Tel: 03 5424 1441 Mobile: 0412 584 555 Office: 19 Albert Street, Trentham 3458

Trades 33

DAYLESFORD APPLIANCE SERVICE

das3460@bigpond.com

electrical appliance repair service washer, dryer, fridge, dishwasher, oven, cook top etc.

Call Kiyo on

0419 267 685

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Servicing all Daylesford and Districts wastewateraus.com.au MOB: 0427 508 840

Malone Tree Services Liam Malone . Limited Access . Fully Insured .Specialists Qualified . Mulching Available

PH: 0400 059 613 - 5348 6634 ADMIN@JESSEDAWKINSGARDENS.COM.AU WWW.JESSEDAWKINSGARDENS.COM.AU

0423 945 436

Daylesford Newsagency & Tattslotto Newspapers, magazines, Tattslotto, dry-cleaning, stationery, photocopying and lots more...

We stock The Local!

55 Vincent Street, Daylesford 5348 2061

34 Opinion

www.tlnews.com.au

Pick me, pick me...

Just sayin’...

By Donna Kelly

I

WORKED in a newsroom in Melbourne once. It was a busy place, full of journos and photographers racing from one job to the next. Now and again, couples formed. Never a great idea in a work place but what can you do? We were also a lot younger.

No, not me. I am not talking about me coupling up. But there was a lovely young girl who became quite attached to a guy who was a bit of a motorhead. Nothing wrong with that until she ran into the room sobbing "I crashed the car".

Now, this car was actually his car. And it was a very nice car. If you know what I mean. But he had deigned to let her drive it. As she ran towards his outstretched arms he questioned "Is the car OK?". You could have heard a pin drop and then gasps of shock. The guys listened intently to see if the car was OK while the girls as one cried "You bastard".

The poor bloke recovered quickly but it was not enough. The girl was taken off by her best friends to the bathroom, to be told she was too good for him and to dump him immediately.

I can't remember what happened and being young, they probably either kissed and made up, or found someone else to kiss and make out with.

I remembered that story over the past couple of weeks for good reason. I was out walking, on our Gold Coast escape, and in a drought managed to find the only bit of muddy ground, and slipped over.

I fell forward onto my knees and hands and bounced up pretty quickly. There's always that embarrassment factor. If you notice when people trip they always look back as if to say "I should contact the council and get that footpath fixed" even when there is not an out-ofplace join to be seen.

Anyway, I headed back to our apartment and said, quite sadly, "I fell over". I was met by a fairly angry-looking Kyle who immediately replied "What the f... is wrong with you, why don't you look where you are going, why are you stumbling around the place...". Thanks Kyle. He says it is because he worries about me. Hmmm.

Fast forward a week and Kyle comes home from a walk, with a bleeding hand and knee. He had fallen over. My response? "Come and get a hug, and we'll take you into the bathroom and get you cleaned up."

I asked him later if he saw his reaction was a little harsh. But once again, he just said "I just worry about you".

That's lovely but it would be nice if worry extended to a bit of a hug sometimes. My friends tell me it's a bloke thing. Not sure, next time I fall - and I hope that is not soon, I think I will keep quiet. Just sayin'...

Hey there, I am Pebbles. I am a just a young girl just past my kitten stage looking for my new forever home. I’d love you to come and meet with me.

And pick me!!! MC#9560000107972 Mount Alexander Animal Welfare is at 24 Langslow Street, Castlemaine.

Phone 5472 5277.

(Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie and Curly - we picked them!)

The Local - Connecting the Community

T

he Local is all about Connecting the Community. We run good news stories about amazing people and places, and festivals and events. And our fantastic advertisers run great deals for locals and visitors alike.

To give back to the community, The Local has been running its Connecting the Community adverts for five years. The adverts are for not-for-profit groups and organisations to lend a hand when finances can be a bit tight - or just don't exist. We all know how hard it can be to make volunteer-run organisations work on the smell of an oily rag!

To apply just email donna@tlnews.com.au with your event or organisation. We also put call-outs on our Facebook page and those of the various communities in our wonderful region. We work on a first-in basis, with a nod to time-lines too.

There are a few conditions, well mostly that nonfor-profit bit, and also that you aren't grabbing a free advert and then we see a whacking big paid advert in other media. That wouldn't be fair.

Cheers, Donna (Ed)

& ity B iodivers

You Me

Lecture Series 2019

a Wombat Forestcare initiative

The New Nature

Join Tim Low, biologist and best-selling author of seven books about nature and conservation.

Tim will discuss how some native species benefit rather than suffer from human impacts.

Australia has winners as well as losers.

The session will be followed by the Wombat Forestcare AGM.

C H A MB E R MUS I C F E ST I VA L Daylesford 6–8 September 2019

Saturday 7th September 1.30 - 3.30pm Glenlyon Shire Hall Daylesford-Malmsbury Rd, Glenlyon Cost: Donation For information contact: info@wombatforestcare.org.au

wombatforestcare.org.au

visit mco.org.au/feast FESTIVAL PARTNERS DAYLESFORD MACEDON TOURISM

FESTIVAL PARTNERS

www.tlnews.com.au

Opinion 35

Just briefly...

Kyle’s Rant

W

ELL, it’s almost the start of Spring or Spring may have already sprung by the time you read this.

The mountain passes will start to melt and the sky will start to deliver the desperately needed brightness that wards off the black dog of winter.

Well, it’s not that dramatic, but it has been a long winter with a lot of locals escaping to more sun-drenched parts of the globe to thaw out.

It is my favourite time of the year. Full of promise, with footy grand finals, the Melbourne Cup and then there is the spring cleaning, well, that’s up there with shopping for me.

I’ll just put it out there straight away - I hate shopping.

Sometimes I go into town on a sneaky shop just to get one or two items, usually found in bottle shops after a long day toiling at TL HQ, only to find a long list of laborious items has been texted to me.

They usually include nothing fun to look for, just another bag of rice, some milk and bread and 40 items later I’m done. Then there is a small shop with the missus where she pounces straight for the largest shopping trolley to over-stuff full of things we may need in case of a zombie apocalypse.

On a recent trip to a Ballarat department store, I accidentally stumbled into the lingerie section and quickly pushed my way through the forest of delicates, like an Indiana Jones-style bush explorer.

I was to discover on the other side of the land of lace three guys who hadn’t dared to enter. It was almost like a force-field kept them out of the grove of unmentionables. I think they were stunned to see me make it out alive.

Then at a recent winter break, a market trip to Tamborine Mountain. Donna enthusiastically tackled the 300-metre shopping strip as a right of passage while I dragged behind and approached every shop and market stall looking for my brethren, other tired uninterested males who hung out the front waiting for their partners to move along to the next candle shop.

These shop owners even knew how boring their shops were, they provided papers and seats for me and my new feet-dragging buddies to rest.

I mean, apart from the cuckoo clock shop, which I found interesting not only for the thousands of ticking clocks that set me in a scene from the dark side of the moon

by Pink Floyd (if you’ve heard it you’ll know what I mean) but also for the micromechanics in designing these charismatic chronometers. Anyway, I can’t wait until home delivery of the groceries in Glenlyon becomes a reality.

Shopping rant over...

Stop the press! Happy days. Just got my rates notice and my little property at Glenlyon is worth $1.18 million. Who knew? I mean, I have to pay a bit more in rates but it's worth it. Wonder if the council would like buy it?

Oh, I got a bit bored and created this... having a small business means you are always working!

A

NEW writers’ festival to be held in Macedon next August is just one of many events and festivals which have received a total of $274,276 through two Macedon Ranges Shire Council grants programs.

The Events and Festivals Grant Program has awarded $94,664 to 21 events and festivals within the shire while the Community Funding Scheme has awarded 34 grants to community groups that were able to demonstrate strong community benefit. The scheme distributed a total of $179,612, with the majority of funds coming from the council.

Some of the projects to receive a grant in 2019/20 include: The Mount Players of Macedon – to complete the refurbishment of the cast dressing rooms at the Mount View Theatre; U3A Kyneton – for video equipment to allow courses/presentations to be posted on its website for those who cannot attend them in person; Macedon Ranges Writers Festival – a new festival in August 2020 in Macedon held in collaboration with the 2020 Melbourne Writers Festival; Malmsbury Village Fayre; and Kyneton Daffodil Festival.

PALMER STEVENS & RENNICK Barristers & Solicitors Property and Conveyancing Criminal Law Family Law Wills and Estates Commercial Law Employment Law Appearing in Castlemaine Court PLEASE CONTACT US

(03) 5422 6500 SINCE 1852

8 Jennings Street, Kyneton Email - psr@psr.net.au | Website - psr.net.au

7 acres of well organised, easy to navigate, recycled goodness in the heart of castlemaine.

Salvage Yard

Structural timbers, hundreds of doors and windows, landscaping timbers, ex-commercial double glazed glass, steel, masonry and found objects... right down to hard to find hardware and homewares!

Now also supplying a range of small production, sustainably sourced new timbers for flooring, decking, overlay and cladding.

Also, manufacturers of custom designed engineered trusses from recycled timbers.

6 Lewis Drive Castlemaine • 0435 500 112 • www.thesalvageyard.com.au

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